Question 1

Being held to a standard of practice means that:
A)while learning and practicing,an HUC must adhere to a certain set of standards.
B)the HUC must perform at a similar level of competence as other HUCs who work under similar circumstances.
C)HUCs are not negligent even if they fail to uphold the standard,given that they are not nurses.
D)if the duty is not in the HUC job description,it may be performed if intentions are in good faith for the patient.

Accepted Answer

While working as an HUC,one is responsible for performing at the level of competence of other HUCs who work under similar circumstances.

Question 2

Which of the following is TRUE of the patient's paper medical record?
A)Any mistake may be erased or obliterated.
B)If a pen is not available,a pencil may be used to write in the chart.
C)White-out may be used only if information is written in the wrong chart.
D)The medical record is a permanent legal document,and only authorized personnel may have access to this chart.

Accepted Answer

Because the medical record is the legal record of the patient's medical course,the HUC must treat it with special care and confidentiality.Only authorized people may read patients' charts or have access to them.

Question 3

A co-worker insists on telling sexually suggestive jokes that make the HUC very uncomfortable.The first thing the HUC should do is:
A)nothing,because the two of them will have to continue working together.
B)advise the person to stop the offending behavior and that it is unwelcome.
C)quit,and do not tell anyone the reason.
D)ask to be transferred to another floor for "personal reasons."

Accepted Answer

If they are feeling harassed,health care workers should (1)advise the person to stop,that they do not like or welcome this behavior;(2)document the comments and behavior of the person;and (3)file a complaint with the supervisor or with management.

Question 4

Even if an HUC makes an error for which there is a cause of action,the hospital is also liable for this negligence under the principle known as:
A)res ipsa loquitur.
B)respondeat superior.
C)veni vidi vici.
D)e pluribus unum.

Accepted Answer

Respondeat superior means that the employee and the hospital are held responsible for negligent acts of employees while on the job.Remember that the hospital is liable for the employee's actions only when they occur within the course and scope of employment.If the negligent act is a result of conduct outside the scope of employment (i.e. ,outside of the job description),the employee alone is held responsible.

Question 5

If a 6-year-old patient is admitted as the result of suspected child abuse,the agency most likely to receive this report is:
A)NINP.
B)CPS.
C)APS.
D)SNAT.

Accepted Answer

All states have mandatory reporting laws for suspected child or elder abuse.Some states have mandatory reporting laws for domestic abuse.Child Protective Services (CPS)will be called to investigate suspected child abuse (SNAT [suspected non-accidental trauma]).

Question 6

Medical mistakes may account for approximately 98,000 deaths each year.Incorrect transcription due to poor doctors' handwriting may contribute to this problem.If paper charts are used,and the HUC is unable to read a stat medication order,he/she must:
A)ask the patient what the doctor told him or her during the exam.
B)ask the doctor if still at the desk or call the doctor's office for clarification.
C)do his or her best to transcribe the order because it is stat.
D)call another HUC to find out what the doctor usually orders for patients with this diagnosis.

Accepted Answer

If the HUC is not sure about what the doctor has written because the handwriting is illegible,the doctor's orders must be clarified before they are transcribed.It may be necessary to call the doctor for clarification.

Question 7

A registered nurse (RN)is running behind schedule and asks the HUC to give aspirin to an elderly patient who will not realize that the HUC is not allowed to administer medications.The HUC should:
A)take the aspirin to the patient;it's just an over-the-counter drug.
B)ask the patient if she would mind that the nurse is not administering the aspirin.
C)tell the RN that an HUC cannot administer medications.
D)call other HUCs to ask if they have ever administered medications.

Accepted Answer

The HUC should know his or her job description and should not engage in activities outside the job description.

Question 8

A basic set of principles that define our concepts of right or wrong in given situations is known as:
A)a job description.
B)a performance appraisal.
C)a code of ethics.
D)values clarification.

Accepted Answer

A code of ethics is a set of standards for behavior that is based on values.

Question 9

A basic purpose of the performance appraisal is to provide feedback about the employee's performance.An employee could improve his or her appraisal by:
A)keeping a diary of accomplishments and in-services attended during the period since the last appraisal.
B)reminding the nurse manager about his or her ranking in the upper 10% of the school class.
C)asking all co-workers to put in a good word with the nurse manager.
D)planning a nursing unit party 2 weeks prior to the evaluation.

Accepted Answer

It would be helpful to the HUC and to the nurse manager for the employee to keep a record of accomplishments,classes taken,and in-services attended during the evaluation period.

Question 10

A good method for protecting patient confidentiality would be:
A)trusting that all hospital employees have the right to view a patient's chart.
B)asking outside personnel for picture identification prior to their viewing the patient's chart.
C)sending the chart through the pneumatic tube system.
D)faxing pages of the chart to a caller who has identified himself as a doctor from another state and the son of a patient.

Accepted Answer

Reviewers for insurance companies have the responsibility of examining patient charts to ensure that tests,procedures,and hospital days will be paid for by the patients' insurance.Social workers from Protective Services also must review patient charts when investigating possible abuse.It is the responsibility of outside agency personnel to show the HUC picture identification;if they fail to do this,the HUC must ask to see identification.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding HUC standards of practice?
A)An expert witness will judge an HUC's performance on the basis of performance of HUCs of the same age.
B)The standard of care applied by the expert witness is the same,irrespective of one's education and experience.
C)An expert witness who judges an HUC is usually an RN.
D)An HUC must remain current with literature,procedures,and practices in his or her area and must fulfill responsibilities as defined in the HUC job description.

Accepted Answer

An HUC must keep up with current practices in the profession,must read current literature and be familiar with hospital policies and procedures that affect the HUC job,and must know the current job description and the duties it details.

Question 12

You try to be sensitive to the problems and needs of others and are careful in your wording of potentially sensitive communication.You are said to be exercising:
A)tactfulness.
B)consciousness.
C)honesty.
D)empathy.

Accepted Answer

Tactfulness is being sensitive to the problems and needs of others.

Question 13

Which of the following is true about workplace appearance?
A)Employees who are attired in the latest style,although considered offensive by some,will relate better to younger patients,so it should not matter what the patient's parents think.
B)Sculptured nails and nail polish are entirely acceptable and pose no risk.
C)Perfumes,colognes,aftershave,and hair spray should be worn very lightly or not at all.
D)The appearance of the employee makes no impression on the facility.

Accepted Answer

Perfumes,colognes,aftershave,and hair spray should be very light or should not be worn at all.Patients with respiratory problems,allergies,or nausea could experience ill effects from the aroma.

Question 14

The HUC had an unusually busy day and as a result made an error while transcribing a medication.The medication was given,and the patient suffered an adverse reaction as a result.The ethical principle breached with this mistake is:
A)autonomy.
B)nonmaleficence.
C)veracity.
D)confidentiality.

Accepted Answer

This principle,which comes from the Hippocratic Oath,means that a health care professional will never inflict harm on the patient.HUCs should always be aware of the seriousness of transcribing doctors' orders,because an error may result in harm to the patient.

Question 15

Which of the following is permissible in maintaining patient confidentiality?
A)Verbally repeating patient information to a co-worker on another floor
B)Allowing access to the patient chart for any hospital employee
C)Discussing medical treatment with the patient's niece
D)Referring all telephone calls from police personnel to the nurse manager

Accepted Answer

To maintain confidentiality,the HUC should refer all telephone calls from reporters,police personnel,legal agencies,and other investigative sources to the nurse manager.If in doubt about the authenticity of a telephone caller,obtain information from the caller so you may return the call.

Question 16

One of the principles in the patients' bill of rights is that one should refrain from inflicting harm on a patient.An HUC,while transcribing doctors' orders,missed stat orders,and the treatment delay caused harm to the patient.The principle breached is:
A)confidentiality.
B)nonmaleficence.
C)autonomy.
D)veracity.

Accepted Answer

Nonmaleficence,which comes from the Hippocratic Oath,means that a health care professional will never inflict harm on the patient.HUCs should always be aware of the seriousness of transcribing doctors' orders,because an error may result in harm to the patient.

Question 17

The principles of respect,veracity,nonmaleficence,and confidentiality may be found in:
A)the code of ethics.
B)a job description.
C)Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
D)the patients' bill of rights.

Accepted Answer

The patients' bill of rights varies in wording among hospitals,but all are based on basic ethical principles,including respect,veracity,nonmaleficence,and confidentiality.

Question 18

A person's behavior in the workplace is influenced and affected by:
A)the size of the hospital.
B)how meaningful or important the work is to that person.
C)the distance the job is from home.
D)the number of days off per year.

Accepted Answer

One of the factors that influences one's workplace behavior is how meaningful or important the work is to the person.

Question 19

Values clarification is important for the health unit coordinator (HUC)who is preparing to be a competent professional.Values conflicts would include opinions regarding:
A)social and spiritual issues.
B)personal finances.
C)negligence.
D)legalities.

Accepted Answer

It is essential for HUCs to understand and be aware of their values and to remain nonjudgmental of the values others hold that differ from their own.Value conflicts include cultural,spiritual,social,and ethnic differences.

Question 20

One element of an informed consent is that:
A)anyone related to the patient may sign,giving the patient's consent.
B)a telephone consent may be considered legal as an informed consent as long as at least one hospital employee has heard the verbal consent given after the procedure,and its risks have been explained.
C)the person who is appropriate to sign has been informed of the procedure and its risks and understands them.
D)the doctor has carefully reviewed the procedure with the patient's nurse,who is prepared to care for the patient postoperatively.

Accepted Answer

An informed consent documents that the person signing it has been informed of the risks and characteristics of a planned procedure and understands them.

Quiz 6: Workplace Behavior

Being held to a standard of practice means that:

Which of the following is TRUE of the patient's paper medical record?

A co-worker insists on telling sexually suggestive jokes that make the HUC very uncomfortable.The first thing the HUC should do is:

Even if an HUC makes an error for which there is a cause of action,the hospital is also liable for this negligence under the principle known as:

If a 6-year-old patient is admitted as the result of suspected child abuse,the agency most likely to receive this report is:

Medical mistakes may account for approximately 98,000 deaths each year.Incorrect transcription due to poor doctors' handwriting may contribute to this problem.If paper charts are used,and the HUC is unable to read a stat medication order,he/she must:

A registered nurse (RN) is running behind schedule and asks the HUC to give aspirin to an elderly patient who will not realize that the HUC is not allowed to administer medications.The HUC should:

A basic set of principles that define our concepts of right or wrong in given situations is known as:

A basic purpose of the performance appraisal is to provide feedback about the employee's performance.An employee could improve his or her appraisal by:

A good method for protecting patient confidentiality would be:

Which of the following statements is TRUE regarding HUC standards of practice?

You try to be sensitive to the problems and needs of others and are careful in your wording of potentially sensitive communication.You are said to be exercising:

Which of the following is true about workplace appearance?

The HUC had an unusually busy day and as a result made an error while transcribing a medication.The medication was given,and the patient suffered an adverse reaction as a result.The ethical principle breached with this mistake is:

Which of the following is permissible in maintaining patient confidentiality?

One of the principles in the patients' bill of rights is that one should refrain from inflicting harm on a patient.An HUC,while transcribing doctors' orders,missed stat orders,and the treatment delay caused harm to the patient.The principle breached is:

The principles of respect,veracity,nonmaleficence,and confidentiality may be found in:

A person's behavior in the workplace is influenced and affected by:

Values clarification is important for the health unit coordinator (HUC) who is preparing to be a competent professional.Values conflicts would include opinions regarding:

One element of an informed consent is that: